put a puck into the postage stamp showing between the goalies right shoulder and the goal post all while skating at 100000kph and being body checked/blocked/slashed/hacked and looking for the assist if it doesn't work

I've never really been a big fan of hockey, though it is pretty popular here at the university. I just go to games and yell at the refs and make trouble. At a game last year, a puck was hit really friggin hard and it just made it over the barrier and hit the back of a seat just two spots down. My friend was sitting next to me right next to the seat that was hit. If that puck had hit a person, it definitely would've caused some serious problems. Scary stuff, that hockey!

I like watching it live. Don't watch it on TV. I hear rating and attendance are really low for the NHL this year.

Yeah, and there's a reason for that. Lots of sports have been suffering from that thanks to powers above us deciding that they REALLY REALY need to make sports unfair

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I play (well, I haven't since this Spring but that's another discussion) --totally love the sport. If you've never ice skated, give it a try. Then picture trying to go full speed all the time with a stick in your hands trying to keep control of a frozen coaster while five other guys try to take it away and oh you're supposed to put it in a goal too. Great sport. NHLers play the same number of games the NBA does (82) and that doesn't include the two-month post season. And unlike the NBA, they're getting hit as often as a running back in the NFL (or David Carr, take your pick)

The soul of NHL hockey is gone. The game might be the same, but the soul is gone.

Why?

No more:

Boston Garden

Montreal Forum

Maple Leaf Garden

Buffalo Aud

St. Louis Arena

Chicago Stadium

Philadelphia Spectrum

etc....

They have all been replaced by generic mega-skybox-monstrosity arenas that don't rattle and hum like the old barns used to. It's just not the same. Even watching on TV, that certain buzz that eminated from a rivalry taking place in a cramped arena used to just ooze through the broadcast. Now it's like watching a sterile clinic. Boring....

The other reason... There are 30 teams now! It may not water down talent, but it does water down rivalries when teams see each other only a few times a year. The league expanded too far too fast and have been paying for it. Nashville? Atlanta (again)? Columbus? Okay, maybe these cities deserved a team, but I'd rather see a struggling franchise move to a place they'll be loved (hello Avs, goodbye Nordiques) than keep adding teams.

Anyway, I grew up and still am a frustrated St. Louis Blues fan. Seeing games in the old Checkerdome (St. Louis Arena) were complete highlights of my growing up. The place was just magic for me. The new arenas all feel the same. The sound disipates into the cavernous nothing above, the places are too clean, and the hockey is just not as passionate.

I guess I need to get up to Madison for a few Badger games.... anyone got some extras for me?

The soul of NHL hockey is gone. The game might be the same, but the soul is gone.

Why?

No more:

Boston Garden

Montreal Forum

Maple Leaf Garden

Buffalo Aud

St. Louis Arena

Chicago Stadium

Philadelphia Spectrum

etc....

They have all been replaced by generic mega-skybox-monstrosity arenas that don't rattle and hum like the old barns used to. It's just not the same. Even watching on TV, that certain buzz that eminated from a rivalry taking place in a cramped arena used to just ooze through the broadcast. Now it's like watching a sterile clinic. Boring....

The other reason... There are 30 teams now! It may not water down talent, but it does water down rivalries when teams see each other only a few times a year. The league expanded too far too fast and have been paying for it. Nashville? Atlanta (again)? Columbus? Okay, maybe these cities deserved a team, but I'd rather see a struggling franchise move to a place they'll be loved (hello Avs, goodbye Nordiques) than keep adding teams.

Anyway, I grew up and still am a frustrated St. Louis Blues fan. Seeing games in the old Checkerdome (St. Louis Arena) were complete highlights of my growing up. The place was just magic for me. The new arenas all feel the same. The sound disipates into the cavernous nothing above, the places are too clean, and the hockey is just not as passionate.

I guess I need to get up to Madison for a few Badger games.... anyone got some extras for me?

[/rant]

Also, add in the lackluster product they're putting out there and what do you get?

I'd just like to say thank you to Gary Bettman for ruining my favorite sport. He has basically alienated all the die-hard fans to make the sport "more appealing" to the casual fan. The physical aspect of the sport is what makes it so much fun to watch (including fighting) and Bettman has effectively eliminated the rough stuff. The instigator penalty has to be the most ******** rule in hockey, all it means is that any teams candy-ass can cheapshot other teams superstars and never have to pay for it.

Rivalries...they don't even exist anymore in this watered down league. You always knew in the past that a Flyers/Rangers or a Calgary/Edmonton Home & Home was gonna be a bloodbath (so to speak) now, you're lucky to see one big hit in both games. Here's a story about the death of the rivalries, it's pretty much spot on:http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/n...7-24c6535e8832

Such a shame, hockey is an amazing sport, but it's trashed at the NHL level.